Final
Thomas earns 200th win as Panthers down Avs
Nov 17, 2013 - 5:36 AM Denver, CO (SportsNetwork.com) - Tim Thomas earned his 200th career win with 32 saves as the Florida Panthers beat the suddenly struggling Colorado Avalanche 4-1 at Pepsi Center.Tom Gilbert collected three assists for the Panthers, who have won two of their last three games on the heels of an 0-5-4 slide. Florida snapped a nine- game road losing streak (0-8-1), winning as the visitor for the first time since its season-opener at Dallas.
"We didn't commit many turnovers and we kept the puck deep in their zone," Gilbert said.
Semyon Varlamov surrendered four goals on 33 shots for Colorado, which has dropped three straight and four of six following its 12-1-0 start.
"Effort is not a problem with this team. It was focus and we made poor decisions," said Avalanche head coach Patrick Roy.
The Panthers grabbed a 1-0 lead on by Brad Boyes' first-period goal, then Brian Campbell beat Varlamov on a power play with a slap shot from the top of the left circle 1:15 into the second period.
Ryan O'Reilly cut the Avalanche deficit in half when his shot deflected in off Gilbert at the 7:23 mark of the second. Tomas Kopecky restored Florida's two- goal cushion, slipping a backhander through the five-hole of Varlamov with 6:07 to play in the middle stanza.
Jonathan Huberdeau capped the scoring in the third period.
Game Notes
Colorado forward Matt Duchene suffered an oblique injury ...The Panthers posted their first win in Denver since Jan. 2, 2003, snapping a three-game losing streak ... Avalanche defenseman Andre Benoit missed the game with a wrist injury ... Colorado forward Alex Tanguay is now out indefinitely. He was initially expected to miss at least two weeks with a knee injury suffered Nov. 2.
- FLORIDA: 4
COLORADO: 1
Final
Nov 16 11:29 PM - Florida Goal - Jonathan Huberdeau (5), from Nick Bjugstad and Brian Campbell at 12:16.
Panthers 4, Avalanche 1 3rd - 7:44Nov 16 11:17 PM - FLORIDA: 3
COLORADO: 1
End of 2nd
Nov 16 10:40 PM - Florida Power-Play Goal - Brian Campbell (3), at 1:15.
Panthers 2, Avalanche 0 2nd - 18:45Nov 16 10:06 PM - FLORIDA: 1
COLORADO: 0
End of 1st
Nov 16 9:47 PM - FLORIDA: 0
COLORADO: 0
1st Period - 20:00
Nov 16 9:12 PM
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